Krokus
Alive and Screamin'

THE REVIEW

In the 1980s, the new wave of Metal, as exemplified by Iron Maiden, saw its greatest success in England and especially in the States, where bands like Maiden were viewed as a response to the increasingly popular Disco-Music. And clearly, as usual, there are somewhat overlooked bands like Krokus. They hail from Switzerland, and they're a five-piece band, with the very talented Fernando Von Arb on guitar and the Maltese Mark Storace on vocals; they've always been overlooked for being considered an AC/DC clone, and indeed Storace's voice is practically identical to that of the late Bon Scott. That means very little, considering that in 1983, AC/DC released the disappointing "Flick Of The Switch," while shortly after Krokus's masterpiece "Headhunter" would be released, solidifying their status in the States, where this "Alive And Screamin'" was recorded, their first live album, released in 1986 as part of the tour promoting their "Change Of Address" record.

It's an album that relies entirely on the energy of the tracks, performed perfectly, starting with the first song, "Long Stick Goes Boom," tasked with kicking off the show. However, their first masterpiece is "Eat The Rich" from Headhunter; the track is extraordinary, with Storace showcasing his vocals, and Von Arb delivering a stunning solo amid the audience's cheers... But ladies and gentlemen, bow down to the next track, "Screaming In The Night." The song is a wonderful ballad that I consider on par with Stairway To Heaven, where Mark and Kohler's bass have a crucial role; the gem is enriched by Von Arb's accompaniment on guitar, as always right on point!

The album continues with another great piece, "Midnite Maniac," which doesn't offer anything new, other than reaffirming the power of this album. We proceed with one of Krokus's early hits, "Bedside Radio" from their album "Metal Rendez-vous," a song notable for the swift execution and the brilliant performance of bassist Mark Kohler, who hammers his bass like a madman. We move forward, skipping the simple "Lay Me Down," to make way for the last two masterpieces of the album: the first is "Stayed Awake All Night," where the crowd goes wild while the band unleashes all their energy. The last track is perhaps the most representative of Krokus, a true Metal anthem, the extraordinary "Headhunter," executed amazingly, with Storace shredding his vocal cords, a performance worthy of the best Gillan, and Fernando pulling out a magnificent solo from his Fender! The album concludes amidst the audience's applause and the group's thanks!

In conclusion, it's one of the best live albums of the '80s, but above all, one of the best live Metal albums in general, that every self-respecting metalhead should own! I highly recommend it to you, and for once, it's not hard to find, unlike the other albums I generally review. It's worth it, trust me!!

SEE YOU SOON, BYE DEBASERIANS!